The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is expected to take a historic step Thursday by taking a vote on whether to privatize the state-run liquor stores.
But, the debate continued Wednesday as to who’s on the right side of history.
At one point, more than 100 amendments to the bill were due to come up, potentially leading to a long night at the Capitol. But, as the day went on that number dwindled until a Democratic proposal to gut the bill was shot down. Debate ended before 5 p.m., with the expectation the House will vote Thursday some time after 3 p.m.
It’s the first time a proposal to sell of the state’s liquor stores has gone this far.
“This is a huge step. This is something people have wanted. We’ve debated this issue time and time again over the years. Many governors have tried. I think that the governor starting this process, putting the first step forward. The changes that will evolve I think will come out to a fair plan,” said Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-88th).
Democratic leaders say their entire caucus plans to vote no, meaning Republicans will have to come up with all 102 votes needed to pass the bill.
Lawmakers debated Wednesday, approving a few amendments that were technical in nature and dealt with language in the bill.
Since Gov. Tom Corbett (R) pitched his privatization plan, there have been some substantive changes to the bill.
As it stands now, existing beer distributors would get the first shot at buying licenses to sell beer and wine. Also, the bill no longer directs $1 billion from the sale of licenses to education.
Supporters of privatization say the intent is still there to funnel money to schools, but no dollar amount is guaranteed.
Rep. Patty Kim (D-103rd) said she could not support the bill for several reasons, including impacts on current employees and the handling of money for education.
“I think realistically, it could be anywhere from $250 million up to $1 billion. And, I think that’s incredibly unfair to tie privatization to public education,” said Kim. “I have people in distress because they can’t find jobs. And, to lay off maybe 4,500 more, it’s just going to devastate my district. And, we can’t get back from this economy. It’ll just take a longer time to recover.”
Meanwhile, several employees of the state-run stores were at the Capitol to watch the debate.
Despite calls for the number of liquor stores to double and assurances the state will work with employees to find work, many of them are upset and frustrated with the plan.
“I have a six-year-old. I just want to be able to give him the life I’m giving him now. It’s nothing crazy. I just can’t believe we have to be going through this,” said Billie Moyer, who’s worked for the state for 25 years.
She said her father was an employee too at one point and tearfully recalled her family’s concerns over privatization over the years.
Moyer said, “All these people, all in their suits, they all have their careers and their lives. And, they want to take ours. And, I don’t get it.”
Rep. Delozier responded, “There’s a lot of people who want to make sure they have an easy transition, they have opportunities…I think there’s a lot of willingness to make sure that those that have the training and have the opportunity get the first shot at it.”
24 Comments to “Pa. House expected to vote Thursday on privatizing liquor stores”
March 20, 2013 at 10:16 PM
$21.48 an hour as a cashier?? No wonder Billie is concerned about losing her lifestyle!! In what other retail store does a cashier get paid that salary? Privatize the liquor stores.
$41,000 a year to scan a barcode is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. Is there any wonder why we pay so much more for alcohol than citizens of our neighboring states?
I feel bad that these people may have to face a harsh reality when they hit the real world but did they really think that stocking shelves and running a cash register was worth 40k + / year?
Their salary was paid with my tax dollars. I am glad to see these jobs removed from the government payroll.
March 20, 2013 at 10:42 PM
Do you have any idea how many years it takes to make that?? Many, many years my friend!! PLCB employee's are not cashiers, They strip and wax floors, wash floors, buff floors, Unload trucks, continuously stock. Educate yourself, your tax dollars DO NOT pay our salaries or benefits. We do not take from the budget, we give! And guess what?? we pay taxes also!! Often employee's stay after scheduled to complete task that could not get done during the day, on their own time. They work 37and a half hours per week not a forty hour week. Our pensions also do not come out of your tax dollars. Most employee's work part time for three to five years (some without benefits) waiting to get hired full time.. We are hard working, honest people. That is the harsh reality!!
March 21, 2013 at 7:44 AM
Nice try but, no clerk is worth that kind of salary.
March 20, 2013 at 11:14 PM
Privateer lies are all over the web. Paid trolls will make this happen. Barb has put this race to the bottom to comment in the red column. What a waste of money on their part..
March 21, 2013 at 7:06 AM
If you read her comment you would have seen she has been employedl with the PLCB for over 25yrs so when she was hired at 4.75-5.25 per hour is not a lot of money but a family sustaining wage. We also pay taxes , generate our own money,and put money in the general fund.Enough is enough we are on life support and the REPLUBICANS want to pull the plug.!! And when we lose our jobs then we will be using your TAX DOLLARS.
March 21, 2013 at 5:11 PM
Wow!! You could not me MORE misinformed, my friend. Our salary has not been paid for by your tax dollars. WE pay for our own salaries. As well as contributing money to state police drug and alcohol awareness programs. And we pay taxes. And we contribute to our benefits. And we most certainly do not stand around scanning a bar code. And you certainly will feel badly when we "hit the real world" when YOUR taxes are raised in order to make up for the money not being filtered back into the state. How do you think the state is going to be able to sustain 4,500 employees that will be out of a job, and on unemployment. Be careful what you wish for.
March 20, 2013 at 11:13 PM
Is that all you think a liquor store clerk does is scan a bar code? Barb mentioned a few things but who puts together the bar orders, takes the bar orders, helps the customers when then come in and have no clue of what they want, who does the monthly paperwork, who does the truck order. These are just a few more added things from Barb's comment that someone from the outside thinking that all a liquor store clerk does is stand at the counter and scan bottles…….what about the one person stores in the rural areas where they don't get a lunch break and barely have time to get the bathroom between customers. I guess people should take a step back do a little research before they post comments. The liquor stores are a self suffient state agency meaning NO TAX DOLLARS are used for salaries or equipment or supplies or rent for the buildings…..the people working in the liquor stores get up and put their pants on and go to work the same way just like everyone else does but why do so many people bash them just because they took the civil service test and got a state job and they didn't?????
March 20, 2013 at 11:25 PM
As much as you need to pick up a sixer at Sheetz Billie needs to continue adding $ to the state coffers and ensure public safety so she can help support her family. You might consider your priority (booze?) more important than that. It is a free country. Your allowed to be an …..
March 21, 2013 at 12:07 AM
Drive through the middle of jersey and tell me what you see. Drive in an urban area such as Camden or jersey city and tell me what you see. Go into Walmart and let me know how your experience is. Go into a grocery store in a neighboring state and see that they carry only 15% of the wines we do. The public needs to educate themselves before they comment. The citizens of PA do not pay towards any plcb employees benefits what so ever. In fact it is the plcb that helps pay for many other state bills. Be careful what you wish for
March 21, 2013 at 9:05 AM
Go to Joe Canal's, Rodger Wilco, or total wine and see they carry 3 to 4 times as many things as the largest PLCB store. How many wines can you find conveniently in a PA grocery store. The answer is none so the choice is ZERO for PA or something.when we get rid of the PLCB.
March 21, 2013 at 1:07 AM
as a licensee you might think i would favor privatization that would be totally incorrect. why would i want people to lose living wage jobs in this economy. selection is excellent and stores are well run. watch what happens when the private sector takes over sub 10 dollar per hour jobs no benefits partime positions and oh yea everyone must be over 18 to sell liqour so goodbye high school jobs. one term tom wants to sell everything he can to survive his administration he must be stopped
March 21, 2013 at 9:07 AM
Everyone must be over 18 to sell liquor now.
March 21, 2013 at 5:12 AM
We are past time to privatize the government does not need to be in the business of selling booze!
March 21, 2013 at 6:57 AM
It is not like the state is selling milk and bread. You may wish to buy your bottle of wine for dinner at the grocery store but that is not the ugly side of alcohol, as any employee will tell you, we all have wittnessed the customer whose health has deteriorated to the point of no return because of alcohol, bloody fingertips, bloated stomach's, yellow skin and the stench of urine. You may believe the private sector can do an equal job at preventing the sale of alcohol to underage or intoxicated customers but it is not so. All liquor stores communicate with each other, we often have a heads up either by phone or e-mail to be on the look out for someone attempting to buy alcohol who came in to a store with someone underage or a fake ID. By far the current system is the best at preventing sales to minors. If the governor and his cronies were successful it would be a sad day for Pennsylvania as I am sure communities and many families would see more of the social ills associated with the misuse of alcohol. Drinking milk does not cause any of the above so no reason for the state to regulate the sale.
March 21, 2013 at 7:47 AM
Stop with the spurious arguments! There is no evidence that PA is any better than surrounding states for controlling alcoholism and is actually on the bottom of the heap for DUI deaths. If you ever did any homework you would know that.
March 21, 2013 at 8:47 AM
You mean, like the great job they did at the Hellertown State Store last week, where one of your great State Store employees sold $252 worth of booze to a 20 year old? Yeah, the State Store, kicking underage butt!
The new bill calls for an ID check on EVERY sale, complete with an electronic scan. Wegmans does this already, voluntarily. I'm 54, and I still have to produce ID every time I buy a sixpack at Wegmans. The State Store doesn't do much to "control" alcohol misuse in PA; underage drinkers just get it from family or friends (tons of research shows that's true), and alcoholics buy in the morning before they get impaired. What exactly does "control" do, except annoy and inconvenience the great majority of moderate, sensible drinkers?
Privatization IS Modernization. Time for Pennsylvania to catch up with the rest of the country…Utah can follow us.
March 21, 2013 at 8:02 AM
If this passes, we are going to have a lot of cheesy liquor businesses popping up along our highways. Take a look at some of the surrounding states. The PLCB stores are always neat, clean and well stocked. Will it be the same if it is privatized?
March 21, 2013 at 8:38 AM
When the 5 hundred million goes away from the general fund year after year, you all are going to be screaming about taxes that you didn’t used to pay, I don’t want to hear it!!!
March 21, 2013 at 8:50 AM
Really, Dave? I didn't see the part of HB790 that said "And we're going to repeal all taxes on wine and liquor, FREE RIDE, BABY!!!!" Wine and liquor are still subject to the tax with the amusingly archaic name, the Johnstown Flood Emergency Tax, and the state sales tax. All the state's going to lose is the State Stores' increasingly shaky "profit," which is being eaten up by growing overhead costs. Don't worry about your hearing: you won't be hearing anything.
Privatization IS Modernization.
March 21, 2013 at 9:35 AM
When your in business you control who gets paid first all the money the board makes stays within the state the freight is paid for first not the mob
March 21, 2013 at 9:34 AM
while we're at it, get rid of the 18% JOHNSTOWN FLOOD TAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM
I lived in Utah also, They did a great job with their LCB the only better model is here. The selection is second to none here. Im sure if it was your job on the line you would see thing differently
March 21, 2013 at 10:32 AM
I dont care who owns the liquor stores, just give ME the freedom to buy what i want from anywhere in the country or the world. It makes ZERO sense to regulate what's on a shelf. But really? $22/hour to run a cash register? is it that much different than doing the same thing for 1/3 the wage at WalMart? You stock a shelf, you scan the barcode, you put it in a bag, take continuing ed courses on how to be more friendly to the customer, etc. WTH is that about? just give me my stuff!
March 22, 2013 at 12:25 AM
I don't usually reply, but I am feeling a wee bit bitchy right now. We do not employ cashiers, why not try working for the summer season (no need to take test for a seasonal). Walk in our shoes before you assume something that is not so, few employee's go through their career without hernia's, bad backs, etc Talk to the governor about Modernization, that would please you. Tell him to let us open longer hours, on Sundays, open the door to direct wine sales. We want those things too. Modernization is the what would work for all. Complain all you want about overpaid cahiers but the sad truth is privatizing is going to make the filthy rich even richer,